Feminist Update: August 25, 2015

Feminist Update
Your weekly update on all things feminism. Keep up to date on the election, the news, and what is going on in the world of women.WGF Updates:
This week WGF is partnering with our coalition colleagues to continue work on the Paid Sick Days Act Ordinance approved by Pittsburgh City Council on August 3, 2015. The ordinance ensures that all persons working in the City of Pittsburgh can earn sick time to use when they or a family member are sick, injured, or need preventative health care. Our next focus is developing a FAQ sheet for both businesses and workers, and ensuring that all eligible employees can begin to utilize this new benefit as soon as possible.
WGF is also looking for a few good interns! If you (or a college/graduate student that you know) are looking for work study or an internship this academic year, please read about the open positions and apply here.In the News:Amnesty votes to decriminalize sex trafficking: On August 11th, Amnesty International voted to fully support decriminalization of sex trafficking under the justification that it would work to protect the rights of the workers. The decision is facing much opposition, as is expressed in this Al Jazeera article.
This follows very closely in suit to the prostitution laws of Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands, where the buyers instead of the sellers are criminalized. Such changes have shown success across the board: the prevalence of prostitution has fallen.The White House Welcomed its first openly-transgender official: Last Monday, Raffi Freedman-Gurspan started her job position as an outreach and recruitment director for the White House of Presidential Personnel. As a former policy adviser at the National Center for Transgender Equality, she is considered a role model for her work to empower members of the LGBT community. READ MORE>

Thirteen Year-Old Star Of “Girl Meets World” on White Feminism, Intersectionality: “This is such an important thing to be discussing. I have made a very big point at making sure my personal feminism includes everyone- and educating myself and discussing these topics have really helped. Issues that are commonly thought of as feminist issues include sexual assault, rape, abortion, Planned Parenthood, domestic violence, equal education, and the wage gap. Feminists have also adopted marriage equality and gay/lesbian rights as their issue which is wonderful.” READ MORE>

FDA Approves Libido Pill for Women: As the first pill to treat lack of libido for women on the market, the ‘female Viagra’ fibanserin has faced some controversy: critics explain that in some cases, the side effects do not outweigh the benefits of the pill. READ MORE>
This week brings us Women’ s Equality Day on August 26th. As the 2016 elections quickly approach, here at WGF, we urge you to consider if your local, state, and federal elected officials are working to support women’s rights and equality. From equal pay, improved economic opportunities, to healthcare protection, including birth control, Women’s Issues should and most likely will be at the forefront of debates and political discussions. Lets bring someone into the White House that will work to secure equality and protection for women and girls around the country.Election Updates:Google to play a significant role in the election outcomes: A switch in the algorithm, swaying an undecided voter, and the world’s most used search engine could rig the election results. READ MORE>Clinton calls out the GOP on failing to address college costs: While discussing her plan to lower tuition costs and student debt, Clinton pointed out that education costs were not addressed in the first GOP debate, the New York Times reports.Trump : Since announcing his campaign in late June, Trump has taken center stage in the GOP Race. A recent CNN Poll shows that he is now competitive in the general poll.

Feminist of the Week:
In honor of last week’s 95th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, this week’s featured (S)hero was at the forefront of the Suffrage Movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, after being turned away at the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, recognized that before fighting for others’ rights, women needed to secure their own equality. A motivated abolitionist, she, along with other temperance activists, organized the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York in the summer of 1848. READ MORE>